31. San Francisco, Sylvester Williams, DE, North Carolina
He can fill need at end in the 3-4 and slide inside in passing situations.
Mock 4: Hunt.

31. San Francisco, Sylvester Williams, DE, North Carolina
He can fill need at end in the 3-4 and slide inside in passing situations.
Mock 4: Hunt.

Photo: Gerry Broome / Associated Press

Image 32 of 33

32. Baltimore, Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU
The Ravens lost two inside linebackers, and they need an infusion of youth.
Mock 4: Minter.

32. Baltimore, Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU
The Ravens lost two inside linebackers, and they need an infusion of youth.
Mock 4: Minter.

Photo: Nick de la Torre / Chronicle

Image 33 of 33

John McClain's mock draft 5.0

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This is my last mock draft. I have the Texans taking receiver DeAndre Hopkins in the first round. Some think Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher will be taken by Kansas City with the first pick rather than Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel. I’m sticking with Joeckel. Counting Oklahoma’s Lane Johnson, three offensive tackles could be taken among the top-five picks.

The big question is where West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith is going. There are so many possibilities.

1. Kansas City, Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M

Andy Reid needs a tackle to help protect new quarterback Alex Smith.

Mock 4: Joeckel.

2. Jacksonville, Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan

He’s not their most glaring need, but he should be a Pro Bowl selection.

Mock 4: Fisher.

3. Oakland, Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida

The best defensive line prospect fills a desperate need on the inside.

Mock 4: Floyd.

4. Philadelphia, Dion Jordan, OLB, Oregon

Chip Kelly gets his former college pupil to put pressure on the passer.

Mock 4: Jordan.

5. Detroit, Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU

He’ll be an ideal replacement for Cliff Avril, who left in free agency.

Mock 4: Ansah.

6. Cleveland, Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

He and Joe Haden will give the Browns a pair of first-round picks at corner.

Mock 4: Milliner.

7. Arizona, Chance Warmack, G, Alabama

The Cardinals fill their biggest need with a perennial Pro Bowl prospect.

Mock 4: Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma.

8. Buffalo, Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

They take the most exciting offensive player in the draft to play in the slot.

Mock 4: Warmack.

9. NY Jets, Barkkevious Mingo, OLB, LSU

Rex Ryan still places a top priority on players who can pressure the passer.

Mock 4: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State.

10. Tennessee, Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina

The Titans fill a need with a prospect some scouts think is the best at his position.

Mock 4: Cooper.

11. San Diego, Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

The Chargers want a tackle so bad they’ll be tempted to trade up to get one.

Mock 4: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama.

12. Miami, Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State

He’ll be an ideal replacement for Sean Smith, who left in free agency.

Mock 4: Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah.

13. N.Y. Jets (from Tampa Bay), Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

With an extra first-round pick, they go for the highest-rated quarterback.

Mock 4: Smith.

14. Carolina, Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

The second-best inside prospect can get up field and collapse the pocket.

Mock 4: Shelton Richardson, DT, North Carolina

15. New Orleans, Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

An outside pass rusher with lot of upside for Rob Ryan’s new 3-4 defense.

Mock 4: Mingo.

16. St. Louis, Kenny Vaccaro, FS, Texas

They Rams are desperate for a new safety, and they’ll get the best in the draft.

Mock 4: Vaccaro.

17. Pittsburgh, Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame

Heath Miller is coming off surgery to repair three knee ligaments.

Mock 4: Jones.

18. Dallas, Sheldon Richardson, DT, North Carolina

They Cowboys are returning to a 4-3, and he should help considerably as a rookie.

Mock 4: Sylvester Williams, DT, Alabama.

19. N.Y. Giants, Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

They’ll overlook off-the-field issues and give him a shot in the middle.

Mock 4: Ogletree.

20. Chicago, D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

The Bears need to get some extra protection for quarterback Jay Cutler.

Mock 4: Manti Te’o, MLB, Notre Dame

21. Cincinnati, Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

The top-rated receiver in the draft has the size and talent the Bengals covet.

Mock 4: Patterson.

22. St. Louis, Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama

Jeff Fisher had first-round picks Eddie George and Chris Johnson with the Titans.

Mock 4: Austin.

23. Minnesota, Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

He’s the third-best prospect at his position, and he fills a need.

Mock 4: Trufant.

24. Indianapolis, Datone Jones, DE, UCLA

He can play outside in a 3-4 and inside in a 4-3 and put heat on the passer.

Mock 4: Jones.

25. Minnesota, Manti Te’o, MLB, Notre Dame

He solves a huge problem by filling a large hole in the middle.

Mock 4: Robert Woods, WR, USC.

26. Green Bay, Matt Elam, SS, Florida

He’s a hard hitter who can play deep or around the line of scrimmage.

Mock 4: Eifert.

27. Houston, DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson

After starting for three seasons, he’s ready to contribute as a rookie.

Mock 4: Hopkins.

28. Denver, Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State

They Broncos are looking for a pass rusher who can replace Elvis Dumervil.

Mock 4: D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston.

29. New England, D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston

His stock is on the rise after he ran in the low 4.3s for the scouts.

Mock 4: Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor.

30. Atlanta, Margus Hunt, DE, SMU

He’s raw, but he’s got a tremendous upside because he’s a fantastic athlete.

Mock 4: Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State.

31. San Francisco, Sylvester Williams, DE, North Carolina

He can fill need at end in the 3-4 and slide inside in passing situations.

Mock 4: Hunt.

32. Baltimore, Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU

The Ravens lost two inside linebackers, and they need an infusion of youth.

Mock 4: Minter.

Photo: Karen Warren / Chronicle

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For the fourth consecutive season, I’ve ranked the Texans’ draft choices in order. It’s easy at the bottom because there were so many disappointments – some because of injuries, some because of bad fits or bad coaching or bad systems or a combination of all. My rankings are based on where a player was drafted, what he’s accomplished as an individual and what his teams have achieved and what his potential is. Obviously, next season, the rankings will change again. -- John McClain less

For the fourth consecutive season, I’ve ranked the Texans’ draft choices in order. It’s easy at the bottom because there were so many disappointments – some because of injuries, some because of bad ... more